Things To Ruin is an incendiary collection of songs by Kleban and Larson Award Winner Joe Iconis (writer of the rock musicals The Black Suits and Bloodsong of Love).

Directed by John Simpkins, Things To Ruin is a theatrical rock concert about human beings who are messy, emotional, drugged up, knocked down, inspired, electric and who don’t have nearly enough time to cause the kind of commotion they so desperately need to. Performed by a cast of viciously talented young singers and a highly flammable four- piece band led by Joe himself, Things To Ruin rocks with an occasionally profane and always heartfelt explosion of music and high drama. Things To Ruin has been seen at the Second Stage Theatre, The Zipper Factory, Joe’s Pub and Ars Nova.

Please note that this album contains explicit lyrics.

To inquire about sheet music or licensing Things to Ruin to perform at your school or theater, please email us at t2r[at]sh-k-boom.com.

Disc 21. Son of a Gun1. Son of a Gun2. Dodge Ball3. Albuquerque Anyway4. Just Means5. Helen 6. Honey6. Honey7. The Bar Song7. The Bar Song8. Almost There9. Never Heard Nothing10. I Was Born This Morning (Reprise)

“Humorous, vital music that kicks 1960’s-style pop tunefulness with hard post-punk beats. Joe Iconis recalls the excitement that surrounded Marc Shaiman,
Jonathan Larson and Jason Robert Brown. I would call ‘Things To Ruin’ the
beginning of something, except that it is already well underway.” - The New York Times

"The two-disc set of some of Joe Iconis's songs, presented in a theatrical setting, is an eclectic, entertaining, quirky bundle of dynamite. Of the scores I heard this year that have a pop-rock sound, this is the one I gravitate to for return visits after the initial rush of adrenalin and wake-up throttling that driving guitars and drums can give. There's more to this than youthful angst with lost souls soulfully wailing, although there is plenty of all that for sure. There is also the presence of wit, subversiveness, satire and surprising heart in portraits of lovers and losers and those who love those presumed to be losers. The restlessness, urgency and mix of hopefulness and hopelessness of 20-somethings is well captured in "I Was Born This Morning" ("The Cicada Song"), a group number that begins and ends the show. It's one of the songs that liberally uses profanity, normally a turn-off for me, but it seems so organic and natural to the tone and mindset, and is used casually and not hurled with ugliness. Leading the band as pianist, the songwriter also joins in the fun occasionally, notably with a purposely skewed-viewed commentary, "The Guide to Success."" - Read more on Talkin' Broadway

”Iconis seems hell-bent on finding all the commonly shared emotional moments
that nobody else has yet set to music. It’s so much fun that it’s a
little overwhelming – ‘transporting’ is probably the best word!” - Variety

Things To Ruin is an incendiary collection of songs by Kleban and Larson Award Winner Joe Iconis (writer of the rock musicals The Black Suits and Bloodsong of Love).

Directed by John Simpkins, Things To Ruin is a theatrical rock concert about human beings who are messy, emotional, drugged up, knocked down, inspired, electric and who don’t have nearly enough time to cause the kind of commotion they so desperately need to. Performed by a cast of viciously talented young singers and a highly flammable four- piece band led by Joe himself, Things To Ruin rocks with an occasionally profane and always heartfelt explosion of music and high drama. Things To Ruin has been seen at the Second Stage Theatre, The Zipper Factory, Joe’s Pub and Ars Nova.

Please note that this album contains explicit lyrics.

To inquire about sheet music or licensing Things to Ruin to perform at your school or theater, please email us at t2r[at]sh-k-boom.com.

Disc 21. Son of a Gun1. Son of a Gun2. Dodge Ball3. Albuquerque Anyway4. Just Means5. Helen 6. Honey6. Honey7. The Bar Song7. The Bar Song8. Almost There9. Never Heard Nothing10. I Was Born This Morning (Reprise)

“Humorous, vital music that kicks 1960’s-style pop tunefulness with hard post-punk beats. Joe Iconis recalls the excitement that surrounded Marc Shaiman,
Jonathan Larson and Jason Robert Brown. I would call ‘Things To Ruin’ the
beginning of something, except that it is already well underway.” - The New York Times

"The two-disc set of some of Joe Iconis's songs, presented in a theatrical setting, is an eclectic, entertaining, quirky bundle of dynamite. Of the scores I heard this year that have a pop-rock sound, this is the one I gravitate to for return visits after the initial rush of adrenalin and wake-up throttling that driving guitars and drums can give. There's more to this than youthful angst with lost souls soulfully wailing, although there is plenty of all that for sure. There is also the presence of wit, subversiveness, satire and surprising heart in portraits of lovers and losers and those who love those presumed to be losers. The restlessness, urgency and mix of hopefulness and hopelessness of 20-somethings is well captured in "I Was Born This Morning" ("The Cicada Song"), a group number that begins and ends the show. It's one of the songs that liberally uses profanity, normally a turn-off for me, but it seems so organic and natural to the tone and mindset, and is used casually and not hurled with ugliness. Leading the band as pianist, the songwriter also joins in the fun occasionally, notably with a purposely skewed-viewed commentary, "The Guide to Success."" - Read more on Talkin' Broadway

”Iconis seems hell-bent on finding all the commonly shared emotional moments
that nobody else has yet set to music. It’s so much fun that it’s a
little overwhelming – ‘transporting’ is probably the best word!” - Variety